'Warrior' honored with a plaque

Ex-right fielder helped Yanks win four World Series

Associated Press

Associated Press

Updated 12:37 am, Sunday, August 10, 2014

ANAHEIM, CA - AUGUST 09: Clay Buchholz #11 of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 9, 2014 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 482116987

Always intense, Paul O'Neill was known to take his frustration out on a water cooler or his batting helmet after a close play or a poor at-bat. That fiery attitude also made him one of the keys to returning the New York Yankees back to the top of the baseball world.

The Yankees thanked the player dubbed "The Warrior" by owner George Steinbrenner, honoring O'Neill before their game against the Cleveland Indians on Saturday with a plaque to be placed in Monument Park.

"He was part of the glue that held this thing together," former Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "He was relentless."

O'Neill was acquired in a trade with Cincinnati after the 1992 season, when the Yankees were 76-86. He then went on to help them win four World Series championships and an AL pennant from 1996-2001.

In nine years in New York, the right fielder hit .303 with 185 homers and 858 RBIs. He won the 1994 batting title with a .359 average and made four All-Star teams.

Along with his family and several former teammates, O'Neill watched a video of some of his highlights with the Yankees.

"You look up at the video board today and there's no strikeouts, no errors, it's all good stuff," O'Neill said, "and that's why it's so fun to do things like this."